Solomon’s Porch
Summary
A colonnade on the east side of Herod's temple where Jesus walked and taught, and where the early Church gathered in its earliest days.
☩Location and Structure
Solomon's Porch was a magnificent colonnade on the eastern side of the outer court of Herod's temple, overlooking the Kidron Valley. According to Josephus, it was the only part of the original temple structure to survive from Solomon's time, though most scholars believe Herod rebuilt it. The porch consisted of a double row of Corinthian columns forming a covered walkway about 600 feet long.
☩Jesus in Solomon's Porch
Jesus walked in Solomon's Porch during the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) in winter, where the Jews gathered around Him demanding, 'If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.' The spacious colonnade provided shelter from winter weather and room for crowds to assemble around a teacher.
☩The Early Church
After healing the lame man at the Beautiful Gate, Peter and John found the astonished crowd gathering in Solomon's Porch, where Peter delivered his second recorded sermon. The early believers continued meeting there regularly—'they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch'—though others dared not join them, so great was the people's reverence for this Spirit-filled community.
References
- 1.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Solomon's Porch," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 2.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Solomon's Porch," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 3.George Morrish, "Solomon's Porch," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 4.George Morrish, "Solomon's Porch," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 5.George Morrish, "Solomon's Porch," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 6.George Morrish, "Solomon's Porch," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).